Zoo Licensing Act
What is the Zoo Licensing Act?
The Zoo Licensing Act enacted in 1981 and came into force in 1984. The Act requires the inspection and licensing of all zoos in Great Britain. The Act aims to ensure that, where animals are kept in caged surroundings, they are provided with a suitable environment to provide an opportunity to express most normal behaviour. Zoos must comply with both the provisions of the Act, and with the requirements set out in the Secretary of State's standards of modern zoo practice.
How Does it Work?
Responsibility for the day to day operation of the licensing system rests with local authorities. The licensing and other executive functions of the Act are carried out by District Councils (usually the Environmental Health Department). The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has responsibility for maintaining a list of zoo inspectors and setting detailed standards for zoo management with which zoos are expected to comply.
The Secretary of State has a two-part list of inspectors that he can call on to inspect the zoos. The first part contains names of veterinary surgeons and veterinary practitioners who have experience of zoo animals. The second part lists persons who are competent (in the Secretary of the State's opinion) to inspect animals in zoos, to advise on their welfare and to advise on general zoo management issues. Inspectors' expenses are paid by the licensing authority, and recharged to the owner of the zoo.
What Does it Cover?
A zoo is defined in the Act as being 'an establishment where wild animals are kept for exhibition ... to which members of the public have access, with or without charge for admission, on more than seven days in any period of twelve consecutive months.
The wide scope of this definition means that licensed zoos range from traditional urban zoos and safari parks to small specialist collections such as butterfly houses and aquaria. The Act recognises this wide range of establishments by allowing dispensations to be granted for small zoos. Dispensations for these types of collection are purely to reduce the number of inspectors to a reasonable level for a small establishment, and do not in any way weaken a zoo's obligation to achieve the levels of animal welfare and modern public safety set out in the Secretary of State's standards. The Act does not extend to circuses, or to pet shops, both of which are covered by other (Home Office) legislation.
Review of the Zoo Licensing System
In November 1997 the Government issued a consultation document "Review of the Operation of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981" seeking views on proposed changes to the zoo licensing system.
Following the review, the Government announced on 21 September 1998 a package of measures designed to help modernise the British system of zoo licensing. The main changes announced were:
- The setting up of a new body, the Zoos Forum, to advise Ministers on zoo licensing matters;
- The review and updating of the Secretary of State's standards of modern zoo practice;
- The updating and re-issue of the Government's Circular containing advice to zoo operators and local authorities;
- A detailed review of the provisions of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 to ensure they were in line with the EU Zoos Directive.
The announcement was made at London Zoo by Environment Minister Alan Meale who said:
"Having won our fight for a European Zoos Directive, we now want to make sure that Britain continues to lead the way in putting zoos at the heart of wildlife conservation. Following wide consultation with zoo operators, animal welfare groups, veterinary and other experts, we have put together a modernisation package aimed at making our excellent zoo licensing system even better. The new measures are aimed at strengthening the role that British zoos play in helping to conserve endangered species".
Mr Meale said that the Government wanted to promote greater openness, increase public confidence in the zoo licensing system, and strengthen the conservation role of zoos.
Review of the Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice
On 4 January 1999 the Department appointed consultants to review the current standards of modern zoo practice, with which all zoos have to comply. On 12 July 1999 the Government published the report by the Zoo Standards Review Group proposing revised Standards of Modern Zoo Practice inviting comments to be made by 10 September 1999 and in March 2000 updated standards were issued. A copy of the document can be obtained from:
Tom Adams,
Zoo Licensing Branch,
Global Wildlife Division,
DEFRA, First Floor,
Temple Quay House, 2,
The Square,
Temple Quay,
Bristol,
BS1 6EB.
Tel: 0117 372 8209 or email: tomg_adams@detr.gov.uk
Or it can be found on the 'Global wildlife and zoos: Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice' pages on DEFRA's website http://www.defra.gov.uk
EC Zoos Directive
In June 1998, the Council of EU Environment Ministers agreed proposals drawn up by the UK Presidency for an EU Zoos Directive aimed at strengthening the conservation role of zoos. The Directive entered into force on 9 April 1999 and will require all Member States to set up national systems for the licensing and inspection of zoos. All existing and new zoos will be required to be licensed according to the Directive's requirements by 9 April 2002.
